Scalzi
I traveled a few hundred miles today and was perfectly alert while I was doing it, then came home and within 15 minutes was absolutely exhausted - NOT because home is exhausting but because my brain knew I was at a place where being exhausted was okay.
Jul 17, 2023 at 7:44pmWeb
Show threadJune CasagrandeJul 17, 2023
@scalzi I once saw a car hit a motorcycle, sending the rider hurtling through the air. He landed in the middle of the intersection, immediately leapt onto his feet, ran to safety on the sidewalk, then hurled himself down on the ground, all on autopilot and all in the course of a few seconds.
Show threadGreg PakJul 17, 2023
@scalzi Me when I finish a script. (I am currently about an hour from finishing a script.)
Show threadGreg PakJul 17, 2023
@scalzi Finished it. Awaiting the collapse, ha ha.
Show threadroot42Jul 17, 2023
@scalzi it’s when I finally get that cold. Mostly it’s right when vacation starts.
Show threadOphélie BruneauJul 17, 2023
@root42 @scalzi Same here. Last Friday, I was on holiday at last, and of course it had to start with two days of fever.
Show threadeckericJul 17, 2023
@root42 @scalzi I used to always come down with a cold the day after my last fall semester final in college.
Show threadRemiJul 17, 2023

@scalzi

Happens to me all the time. The alert arousal level while on travel is deeply heightened, unfamiliar places, unfamiliar schedules, random acts of airline gate shifts, etc.

Show threadClebaykaJul 17, 2023
@scalzi this makes so much sense
Show threadLt. Commander ReggieJul 17, 2023
@scalzi you crossed the relaxing threshold
Show threadA Lloyd FlanaganJul 17, 2023
@scalzi your brain is much smarter than mine (this is not news). I need crunchy/salty snacks to stay alert. Apparently “running off the road” scares me less than “getting hungry”.
Show threadkaitlynJul 17, 2023
@scalzi me every day after teaching teens then driving for 40 minutes. Thanks for putting this into words.
Show threadraphaelJul 17, 2023

@scalzi oh god, that is so real.

related: how one has to immediately go to the bathroom the moment the body realises it’s now at a place where it isn’t sure if facilities are available.

Show threadScalziJul 17, 2023
@gekitsu Double if your home has a bidet
Show threadSimon LucyJul 18, 2023

@gekitsu @scalzi

And conversely before leaving the comfort of available facilities against the random chance in some unknown place at some unknown time but knowing it will be needed three minutes after arriving.

Show threadJaime RobertsonJul 17, 2023
@scalzi Better than the alternative; I used to get nervous sitting in the passenger seat watching my father nod off while driving down the highway. Obviously we survived.
Show threadTamJul 17, 2023
@scalzi what shall we name this phenomenon? Safe Colllapse?
Show threadLeona ArthenJul 18, 2023
@scalzi nice to have a safe place.
Show threadRai Aren 🖖✨📚🇺🇦Jul 18, 2023
@scalzi I totally get that 👍 💤
Show threadroque (ロク)Jul 18, 2023
@scalzi I get this. It’s like your body can stretch out your energy for as long as you’re going to need it, but no farther.
Show threadJoumanaJul 26, 2023
@scalzi Oh geez that's why I collapse whenever I get home from the studio, even if I thought I had plenty of energy left to finish stuff.